Posted by beardedlady on March 10, 2003, at 7:57:53
In reply to How do you deal with workplace bullying?, posted by Alara on March 10, 2003, at 5:29:52
The thing about bullies is that they are insecure themselves. They make themselves feel better by making others feel insecure.
If you tell them they have hurt your feelings, you might face worse behavior from them.
Can you befriend other coworkers, just for a chat, some light conversation at work? Can you work with a smile on your face? Can you pretend that they aren't doing this, and speak to them as you normally would?
When bullies realize they can't bully or that others are not insecure (even if they are), they usually find a new hobby.
My advice (take it or leave it; I've never been a bully or a bully's prey, but I have rescued others from bullies) is to ignore their whispers and pretend nothing's going on--at least for a couple of days. See what happens.
Good luck. Oh, as for what to do when you get home from work--do you have a Goodwill? I do mosaics, so I buy lots of plates from there for 10 cents to a buck. When I am angry, I throw some dinnerware in the basement (ceramic is easier to clean up than glass, though glass makes a nicer noise).
beardy : )>
P.S. Actually, this did happen to me once when I was in graduate school and working as a secretary. Two much-younger (and dim) secretaries in my office started going to lunch together and excluding me, left me out of their conversations, etc. I ignored them, acted like I didn't need them to make me happy, and they got bored with it--and with each other--after about two weeks.
poster:beardedlady
thread:207679
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20030308/msgs/207693.html